How the guide works

The toddler years extend from approximately one to four years of age. Some children will develop faster than others, but most will have passed the same range of milestones by their fourth birthday. If you have a toddler, and perhaps more than one child, you may have a range of questions, but very little time to sit down and read! As a result, Your Toddler Month by Month has been written and designed to answer the questions that are relevant to your toddler at the stage he is at right now.

How the guide is organized:

• You and Your Child , encourages you to explore your feelings about parenthood, your personal history, and your hopes and expectations for yourself and your child in the future.

• 12–18 Months, 18–24 Months, 2–3 Years and 3–4 Years take a closer look at the developmental milestones and stages that each toddler will pass through in the first four years. Each section begins with an overview of the skills that your child is likely to develop and explains the physical, emotional, language, and learning milestones that your child will pass through during the months ahead. Many parents worry about “non problems” that are a challenging but natural part of toddler growth. What is Normal and When to Worry provide an overview of common concerns, but my main aim has been to put your fears into the context of what is the typical range of development. Other features include explanations of brain development, learning, and play in each age range and a section for parents on managing emotions, creating a support network, and how to keep any concerns in perspective. Each section ends with a summary of the key points and strategies that are a useful quick-reference for day-to-day parenting.

• Family Life , covers general lifestyle issues, with guidance on helping children to adjust to transitions, such as separation and divorce, how to handle special needs and how to manage difficult behavior. Whether you want to browse through the guide from beginning to end, or head straight for guidance on the latest toddler challenge, you will be able to find the information you need quickly and easily.